A whole day of fasting, then from Dashkarma shopping to cooking offerings, from drawing alpanas to arranging the deity's seat, vigilance is required on all fronts. On the day of Lakshmi Puja, the women of the household find themselves in a whirlwind of activity. And the biggest burden gets on the nerves if the priest doesn't arrive on time!
A priest organization has established a helpline number to ease the householders' situation. The Malbazar "Paur Purohit Samaj" has declared that they will arrange for a substitute priest with a single phone call. 201 rupees is the standard dakshina (offering).
The priestly organization has explained that since Kojagari Lakshmi Puja is observed in almost every household, priests often face delays in reaching their next destination after completing one puja. Many devotees become anxious when unable to secure a priest, effectively becoming victims of harassment. Thus, if anyone experiences significant delays in priest arrival, a call to the organization's helpline will promptly arrange for an alternative priest.
In Malbazar, Lakshmi Puja is conducted in at least three thousand homes. This priestly organization boasts over thirty members who will provide services across a three-square-kilometer area. Debajyoti Chattopadhyay, a member of the organization, states, “On Lakshmi Puja day, many households find themselves in a predicament due to priests’ late arrivals. If they contact us, we will arrange to send an alternative priest”.
This year, the auspicious time for Lakshmi Puja begins after 11:30 AM on Monday. Many have finalized their puja timings for after sunset. However, if the priest is delayed, prolonged fasting can lead to health issues for many. Biman Ray, a resident of the Anandapalli area in Malbazar, says, “My mother has heart and diabetes issues. Despite this, she observes a long fast on Lakshmi Puja. Naturally, there's concern if the priest is delayed”.
Rubai Chakraborty, a priest from Malbazar town, explains, “On average, most priests conduct fifteen to twenty Lakshmi Pujas. However, midway through their schedule, some fall prey to temptation and conduct pujas at other houses. This leads to delays in reaching their regular patrons' homes”.
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